Loading aircraft



Oct. 2, 1951 J. H. CONNELLY LOADING AIRCRAFT Filed Feb. 13, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l m 4/ I M I w a a M .15 A W: I W w m m 4 w U I 7 l 4 w H "l qra2 9 fiww m kw a W .i 2 I V nhu uin n-Fn H a Q n.

JOHN

H. OONNELLY J. H. CONNELLY LOADING AIRCRAFT Oct. 2, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 13, 1946 FIG. 3

Inveutor m Mm." VIQA Hus E mm? M H M J Patented Oct. 2, 1951 LOADING AIRCRAFT John H. Connolly, Phoenix, Ariz., assignor to Southwest Airways Com corporation of Arizona Application February 13, 1946, Serial No. 647,303 19 Claims. (01. 258-1.2)

This invention relates to loading aircraft, and more particularly to a pick-up device for picking up objects and conveying them to the. fuselage of an airplane in flight.

The primary object of the invention is to minimize the shock imparted to both the aircraft and to the object by the act of loading it on a moving plane.

Another object is gradually to accelerate the speed of motion imparted to the object by the pick-up device from a standstill to at least the speed of flight of the plane.

A further and important object is to facilitate the rapid elevation of the object being loaded so as to avoid its striking the ground or obstacles on the ground during the initial stages of the loading operation.

Among its features, my invention embodies a cable fitted at one end with a grapple, adapted to grab an object at rest below a plane in flight, a winding reel carried by the plane to which one end of a cable is attached and upon which the cable is adapted to be wound to transfer the object to the plane, and means carried by the plane to store the energy imparted to the reel by the inertia of the objectand to utilize the energy so stored to transfer the object to the plane.

Other features include means serving as a power generator when driven by the rotation of the reel incident to the unreeling of the cable therefrom and serving as a reel driving motor in reeling the cable while transferring the object to the plane. 7

Still other features include a rotary pump which when the reel is rotated in a direction to unwind the cable serves as a pump and which also serves as a fluid motor for rotating the reel during the cable rewinding operation, an accumulator loaded to a predetermined pressure and connected with the rotary pump across which pressure in the accumulator the fluid is pumped under pressure as the, cable unwinds from the reel, a booster pump for introducing fluid under pressure into the accumulator, and a fluid storage tank from which the fluid is extracted by the booster pump to boost the fluid pressure in the accumulator.

More specific features include a by-pass valve for permitting fluid to flow from the accumulator to the rotary pump to drive the reel in cable winding direction, means automatically to regulate the operation of the by-pass valve and a pressure relief valve between the accumulator and the fluid storage tank to permit fluid to flow into the storage tank so, that the fluid pressure in the accumulator remains at the predetermined value.

pany, Phoenix, Ariz., a

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a partially schematic elevational View of an airplane in flight, equipped with the mechanism of the instant invention, about to pick up. an object from the ground,

Figure 2 is a side view in elevation of the pickup mechanism incorporated within the plane, by which the grapple is controlled for picking up objects at rest beneath the plane, said View being partially schematic to illustrate the cooperation of the various elements,

Figure 3 is an end view of the cable reel,

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the cable reel illustrated in Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the end of the cable reel shaft and the contacts controlled thereby.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a plane designated generally I0 is shown as being in flight, with the object I I, about to be loaded onto the plane suspended between a pair of stakes 12 in the path of a grappling hook l3 carried at the end of a cable l4 leading through a slot I5 in the fuselage of the plane II] to cable-winding mechanism, designated generally l6, mounted within the plane.

The cable control mechanism above referred to comprises a reel I! mounted for free rotation on a shaft 18 which is supported in spaced standards l9 and 2|] within the fuselage of the plane, as will be readily understood upon reference to Figure 2.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the standard I9 is provided, in axial alignment with the shaft l8, with an internally screw-threaded bore 2| for the reception of an externally screw-threaded bushing22 in which the adjacent end of the shaft I8 is journalled. This bushing is provided at its outer end with a hand wheel 23 and its inner end bears against a cone-shaped clutch member 24 which is splined to the shaft l8, as at 25, for longitudinal sliding movement thereon. A conical socket 26 is formed in the adjacent end of the reel ll so that when the cone 24 is advanced into the socket under the influence of the bushing 22, driving connection will be established between the shaft and reel.

Formed on the shaft I8 adjacent the end opposite that mounted in the bushing 22 are external screw threads 21 for cooperation with an internally screw-threaded axial bore formed in a gear 23 which is adapted to be mounted on the shaft [8 between the standard 29 and the adjacent end of the reel I i. The innermost face 29 of the gear 28 is adapted to cooperate with a face 30 3 of substantially equal dimensions formed on the adjacent end of the reel l1, so that when the gear 28 is advanced by the screw threads 21 toward the standard 20, as will be readily understood upon reference to Figure 4. The arm 36 is preferably of non-conducting material, such as hard rubber, fiber or the like andprojects laterally from the standard 20 in parallel relation to .the longitudinal axis of the shaft [8.

Bolted or otherwise fixed to the outer face of the standard 20 is a gear pump 31, the drive shaft 38 of which is provided with a broad-faced pinion 39 which has meshing engagement with the gear 28 so that when th gear is driven through the frictional contact of the faces 29 and 39, the pump 31 will be set into operation. Connected to one port of the pump 3'! is a fluid feed line 49 which communicates with a fluid supply tank 4|, and from which fluid is withdrawn by the pump 31 when pull is exerted on the cable I4 due to the resistance to movement offered by an object encountered by the grapple l3. Leading from the opposite port of the pump 3'! is a pressure line 42 which is connected through a check valve 43 with a fluid storage means or accumulator 44. This accumulator is of a well-known type comprising upper and lower halves separated by a diaphragm and into the upper half of which the pressure pipe 42 leads, while the lower half of said fluid energy storing means is fulfilled with a compressible gas to a predetermined pressure so that as the upper half of the energy storing means of accumulator 44 is filled with fluid, the compressible gas in the lower half will becompressed so as to serve as a cushion and energy storage reservoir. Connected with the energy storing reservoir or accumulator 44, through the medium of a check valve 45, is a booster pump 49 which, in turn, is connected with the fluid reservoir 4| so that fluid may be pumped from the latter in order to pass through the check valve 45 and enter the upper half of accumulator 44 in order to preload the accumulator to the desired volume of fluid and pressure. Connected to the accumulator and to the reservoir 4! is a pressure bleeder pipe 41 which is equipped with a pressure gauge 48 and a hand valve 49 so that the pressure in the accumulator may be governed by opening or closing the valve 49 to permit fluid to be expelled through the pipe 41 from the accumulator and into the storage tank. Connected to the bleeder pipe 4'7 between the gauge 48 and the valve 49 is a bypass line 50 in which an automatic pressure release valve 51 is arranged. Th by-pass line 50 on the side of the valve opposite that connected with the bleeder pipe 47 is connected through a pipe 52 with the reservoir 4| so that when the pressure in the accumulator 44 exceeds a predetermined value, the valve 5! will automatically open and drain the fluid into the reservoir or supply tank 4| until the pressure in the accumulator falls to the predetermined value.

Connected across the check valve 43 in the pressure line 42 is a control valve 53, the operation of which is governed by a solenoid designated generally 54. This solenoid is provided with two coils 55 and 56, one terminal of each of which is connected, as at 51, through a power source 58 to a ground. The opposite terminal of the coil 55 is connected through the medium of a conductor 53 to the contact member 34, while the ungrounded terminal of the coil 56 is connected through the medium of a conductor 60 to the contact member 35. The frame supporting the standards I!) and 20 is likewise grounded so that when the contact ring 33 engages either the contact 34 or the contact 35, one or the other of the coils 55 or 55 will be energized. The armatures of the solenoid coils 55 and 56 are connected to a walking beam 6! which is pivoted intermediate its ends, as at 62, and is connected to the operating arm 53 of the valve 53. it will thus be seen that the valve will automatically be opened or closed when the contact ring or disk 33 engages one or the other of the contacts 34 or 35. V

The operation of the device is as follows. When it is desired to load an object H onto the plane I ll while the latter is in flight, the cable I4 is unreeled or payed out from the reel [1 so as to lower the grapple 13 into a position to engage the object ll after which the hand wheel 23 is rotated to force the cone 24 into the socket 26 to establish driving connection between the shaft l8' and reel I1. Upon engagement of the grapple with the object, definite pull will be exerted on the cable l4 so as to cause the friction face 29 of r the gear 28 to advance into driving contact with the friction face 30'. Such driving of the gear 28 will cause the pinion 39 to operate the pump shaft 38 so as to extract fluid from the fluid supply tank or reservoir 4| and force it through the pressure pipe 42 and check valve 43 into or across the energy storing means or accumulator 44, through pipes 4'! and 50, through pressure relief valve 5|, which is set to predetermined pressure, then through pipe line 52 to tank 4 I. The paying out or unreeling of the cable l4 from the reel l1 continues until the required volume of fluid has been pumped across the pressure previously stored in the accumulator and the resulting drag or break ing action becomes great enough to overcome the pull exerted on the cable, whereupon the pump 31 is reversed by the accumulated pressure and starts to rotate the reel H in the opposite direction. In order to accelerate the lifting of the object I l and to prevent said object from falling back on the ground and to clear obstacles against which the object might strike while being transferred to the plane the reversal of the pump 31 may automatically be governed by setting the contact disk into a position to engage the contact 34 before the energy created by the resistance of the object has been fully stored or pumped across the accumulator so as to complete the circuit through the solenoid coil 55 and thus move the control arm 63 of the valve 53 to open said valve. By thus opening the valve 53 the fluid will be bypassed around the check valve 43 and starts the operation of the pump 31 in its capacity as a fluid motor to drive the reel IT in a direction to wind the cable 14 thereon. By manipulating the booster pump 46, it is obvious that the pressure in the energy storing means or accumulator may be maintained sufficiently high to (1) maintain the predetermined pressure, (2) adjust the predetermined pressure, (3) to complete the reeling of the cable [4 and the lifting of the object into.

the plane, the event of slight loss of pressurein accumulator and system due to "mechanical efficiency. Should the pressure within the energy storing means or accumulator exceed a predetermined value, the valve 5| will open and permit discharge of the fluid from the accumulator, directing it to the storage tank or reservoir 4|.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction and combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

This application is-a continuation in part of, my patent numbered 2,479,316, issued August 16, 1949. r

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for loading aircraft in flight which includes a cable fitted at one end with a grapple adapted to grab an object supported beneath an airplane in flight, a reel carried by the plane to which one end of the'cable is attached and upon which the cable is adapted to be wound to transfer the object to the plane, means carried by the plane remote from the reel and operatively connected to the reel to store the energy imparted to the reel by the inertia of the object and to utilize the energy so stored to reverse rotation of the reel and thereby transfer the object to the plane, and means controlled by the rotation of the reel to direct the flow of energy toward or away from the energy storage means.

2. Apparatus for loading aircraft in flight which includes a cable fitted atone end with a grapple adapted to grab an object supported beneath an airplane in flight, a reel carried by the plane to which one end of the cable is attached and upon which the cable is adapted to be wound to transfer the object to the plane,-means carried by the plane to convert into storable energy the energy imparted to the reel by the unwinding of the cable therefrom when the grapple grabs the object and to utilize such energy to assist in the transfer of the object to the plane, a reservoir connected to the energy converting means to receive and store the converted energy and means actuated by the reel to direct the stored energy to the energy converting means for use in winding the cable on the reel. I

3. Apparatus for loading aircr ft in flight which includes a cable fitted at one end with a grapple adapted to grab an object supported beneath an airplane in flight, a reel carried by the plane to which one end of the cable is attached and. upon which the'cable is adapted to be wound to transferthe object to'the plane, means carried by the plane remote from the reel to store the energy imparted to the reel by the inertia of the object, meansconnected to the energy storing means and to the reel for converting the energy imparted to the reel incident to the unwinding of the cable therefrom into storable energy and to utilize the stored energy to transfer the object to the plane, and means actuated by the reel to establish the-flow of energy from the energy storingmeans to the en ergy converting means to assist in the winding of the cable on the reel during the transfer of the object to the plane. i t

4. Apparatus for loading aircraft in flight which includes a cable fitted at one end with a grapple adapted to grab an object supported beneath an airplane in flight, a reel carried by the plane to which one end of the cable is attached and upon which the cable is adapted to be wound to transfer the object to the plane, means carried by the plane remote from the reel to store the energy imparted to the reel by the inertia of the object, means connected to the energy storing means and to the reel for converting the en ergy imparted to the reel incident to the unwinding of the cable therefrom into stcrable energy and to utilize the stored energy to transfer the object to the plane, and reel controlled means automatically to establish the flow of energy from the energy storing means to the energy converting means to assist in winding the cable on the reel during the transfer of the object to the plane.

5. Apparatus for loading aircraft in flight which includes a cable fitted at one end with a grapple adapted to grab an object supported beneath an airplane in flight, a reel carried by the plane to which one end of the cable is attached and upon which the cable is adapted to be wound to transfer the object to the plane, means carried by the plane to convert into storable energy the energy imparted to the reel by the unwinding of the cable therefrom when the grapple grabs the object and to utilize such energy to assist in the transfer of the object to the plane, a reservoir connected to the energy converting means for retaining the energy imparted to the reel incident to the unwinding of the cable therefrom, means to establish the flow of energy from the reservoir to the energy converting means thereby to assist in winding the cable on the reel and transferring the object to the plane and means controlled by the rotation of the reel automatically to establish the flow of ener y from the reservoir to the energy converting means.

6. Apparatus for loading aircraft in flight which includes a cable fitted at one end with a grapple adapted to grab an object supported be neath an airplane in flight, a reel carried by the plane to which one end of the cable is attached and upon which the cable is adapted to be wound to transfer the object to the plane, means carried by the plane to convert into storable energy the energy imparted to the reel by the unwinding of the cable thereof when the grapple grabs the object and to utilize such energy to assist in the transfer of the object to the plane,

means carried by the plane remote from the reel forstoring the converted energy under pressure and means actuated by the reel for directing the energy into or across the energy storing means when the cable is being unwound from the reel.

7. Apparatus for loading aircraft in flight which includes a cable fitted at one end with a grapple adapted to grab an object supported beneath an airplane in flight, a reel carried by the plane to which one end of the cable is attached and upon which the cable is adapted to be wound to transfer the object to the plane, means carried by the plane to convert the energy imparted to the reel by the unwinding of the cable therefrom when the grapple grabs an object and to utilize such energy to assist in the transfer of the object to the plane, means carried by the plane for storing the energy so converted, means between the energy storing means and the energy converting means to prevent the discharge of energy from storing means to the converting during the unwinding of the cable from the reel, and means operable by the reel to direct stored energy from the storing means to the converting means during the rewinding of the cable on the reel.

8. Apparatus for loading aircraft in flight which includes a cable fitted at one end with a grapple adapted to grab an object supported beneath an airplane in flight, a reel carried by the plane to which one end of the cable is attached and upon which the cable is adapted to be wound to transfer the object to the plane, a reservoir carried by the plane to store fluid under pressure, a pump connected to the reel and to the reservoir for pumping fluid into the reservoir during the unwinding of the cable from the reel when the grapple grabs an object to be lifted into the plane, a check valve between the reservoir and the pump to prevent the flow of fluid from the reservoir to the pump, a valve operable to bypass the check valve and direct fluid from the reservoir to the pump during the winding of the cable on the reel and the lifting of the object into the plane, and means operated automatically by the rotation of the reel for opening and closing the by-pass valve.

9. Apparatus for loading aircraft in flight comprising a reel, a reversible pump operatively connected to said reel, an accumulator in communication with said pump, a reservoir also in communication with said pump, fluid in said reservoir being impelled to said accumulator by said pump upon clockwise rotation of said reel until the fluid in said accumulator reaches a predetermined pressure whereby the fluid in the accumulator will reverse rotation of the pump and cause the reel to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, a check valve between the accumulator and the pump to prevent the flow of fluid from the accumulator to the pump, a valve operable to by-pass the check valve and direct fluid from the accumulator to the pump during clockwise rotation of the reel, and means operated automatically by the rotation of the reel for selectively opening and closing the bypass valve.

10. Apparatus for loading aircraft in flight comprising a reel freely rotatable on a shaft, manually controlled means for establishing a driving connection between the reel and the shaft, a pump, means coupled to the pump outlet for creating a progressively increasing back pressure in the pump whereby progressively increasing resistance will be offered to the rotation of the reel, an accumulator in communication with the pump, a check valve between the accumulator and the pump to prevent the flow of fluid from the accumulator to the pump, a valve operable to by-pass the check valve and direct fluid from the accumulator to the pump during winding of the reel, and means operated automatically by the rotation of the reel for selectively opening and closing the by-pass valve.

11. In a device of the class described, a reel freely rotatable on a shaft, manually controlled means for establishing a driving connection between the reel and the shaft, a reversible pump, means operable upon rotation of the shaft to establish a driving connection between the reel and the pump, an accumulator coupled to the pump outlet to create a progressively increasing back pressure in the pump whereby progressively increasing resistance will be offered to the rotation of the reel, means restricting the flow of fluid from said accumulator, and means by-passing said means restricting the flow of fluid from said accumulator to said pump.

12. In a device of the class described, a reel freely rotatable on a shaft-manually controlled means for establishing a driving connection between the reel and the shaft, a reversible pump, means operable upon rotation of the shaft to establish a driving connection between the reel and the pump, an accumulator coupled to the pump outlet to create a progressively increasing back pressure in the pump whereby progressively increasing resistance will be offered to the rotation of the reel, means restricting the flow of fluid from said accumulator, a by-pas conduit about said means restricting the flow of fluid from said accumulator to said pump, a valve in said conduit, and means actuated by said reel for selectively urging said valve to its open or closed position.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said last mentioned means includes a solenoid operatively connected to said valve.

14. Apparatus for loading and unloading aircraft in flight comprising a reel, a source of fluid, a reversible pump having its inlet connected to said source, said pump being operatively connected to said reel, an accumulator, a supply conduit between the outlet of said pump and said accumulator, a check valve in said conduit preventing the flow of fluid from said accumulator into said pump, a by-pass conduit attached to said supply conduit and by-passing said check valve, a by-pass valve controllin the flow of fluid through said by-pass conduit, and means operatively connected to said by-pass valve and actuated by said reel for selectively opening and closing said by-pass valve.

15. Apparatus for loading and unloading aircraft in flight comprising a reel, a source of fluid, a reversible pump having its inlet connected to said source, said pump being operatively connected to said reel, an accumulator, a supply conduit between the outlet of said pump and said accumulator, a check valve in said conduit preventing the flow of fluid from said accumulator into said pump, a by-pass conduit attached to said supply conduit and by-passing said check valve, a by-pass valve controlling the flow of fluid through said by-pass conduit, a solenoid connected to said by-pass valve, and switch means connected to said solenoid and actuated by said reel for selectively opening and closing the by-pass valve.

16. Apparatus for loading and unloading aircraft in flight comprising a reel, a source of fluid, a reversible pump having its inlet connected to said souce, said pump being operatively connected to said reel, an accumulator, a supply conduit between the outlet of said pump and said accumulator, a check valve in said conduit preventing the flow of fluid from said accumulator into said pump, a by-pass conduit attached to said supply conduit and by-passing said check valve, a by-pass valve controlling the flow of fluid through said by-pass conduit, a shaft rotated by said reel, a switch member threaded on said shaft and traveling on said shaft during rotation of the latter, and electrical means operatively connected to said solenoid and including a contact engageable by said switch member to energize said solenoid.

1'7. Apparatus for loading and unloading aircraft in flight comprising a shaft, a reel rotatably supported on the shaft, manually controlled means for establishing a driving connection between the reel and the shaft, a pump, means operable upon rotation of the shaft for establishing a driving connection between the pump and the shaft, an accumulator, a conduit between the pump and the accumulator for supplying fluid from a source to the accumulator, a check valve in the conduit preventing the passage of fluid from the accumulator to the pump, a by-pass line connected to the conduit and by-passing the check valve, a by-pass valve in said line, and electrically operated means connected to said bypass valve and actuated during rotation of said shaft for selectively opening and closing said by-pass valve.

18. Apparatus for loading and unloading aircraft in flight comprising a shaft, a reel rotatably supported on the shaft, manually controlled means for establishing a driving connection between the reel and the shaft, a pump, means operable upon rotation of the shaft for establishing a driving connection between the pump and the shaft, an accumulator, a conduit between the pump and the accumulator for supplying fluid from a source to the accumulator, a check valve in the conduit preventing the passage of fluid from the accumulator to the pump, a by-pass line connected to the conduit and by-passing the check valve, a by-pass valve in said line, a solenoid operatively connected to said by-pass valve for moving it to its open and closed position, said shaft having a threaded end, a contact electrically connected to said solenoid and to a source of electric current and insulated from said shaft, and a switch member traveling on the threaded end of said shaft during rotation of 10 said shaft and movable toward and away from said contact.

19. In a device of the class described, a reversible pump, a rotary member operatively connected to said pump, a source of fluid connected to the inlet of said pump, an accumulator, a conduit connecting said accumulator to the outlet of said pump, a check valve in said conduit preventing a flow of fluid from the accumulator to the pump, a pipe line connected to said conduit and by-passing said check valve, a by-pass valve in said pipe line, and means actuated by said rotary member and connected to said bypass valve for selectively opening or closing the by-pass valve to permit a fluid in the accumulator to pass through the pipe line and to the pump.

JOHN H. CONNELLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 619,073 Deering Feb. 7, 1899 619,074 Deering Feb. 7, 1899 1,968,636 Dickhaut July 31, 1934 2,014,557 Clampitt Sept. 17, 1935 2,349,284 Kinzelman May 23, 1944 2,479,316 Connelly Aug. 16, 1949 

